Central Flying School of the RAF

[mfg495]

The Central Flying School of the RAF is the longest serving flying school in the world.
The concept of a British military air force was born in 1911 when Herbert Asquith, the Prime Minister, instructed the Committee of Imperial Defence to examine the questions of naval and military aviation and suggest measures to create an efficient air force. The Committee recommended the formation of a Royal Flying Corps comprising a Military Wing, a Naval Wing, a Reserve, the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough and the Central Flying School (CFS).

Central Flying School of the RAF

First course at CFS

Central Flying School of the RAF

Second Course at CFS

Central Flying School of the RAF

Third Course at CFS
Although the cost of CFS was to be borne equally by the Army and the Navy, its administration was the responsibility of the War Office. In compensation, a naval officer, Captain Godfrey Paine, RN was chosen to be the first Commandant. He was informed by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, that he must learn to fly within two weeks if he was to take up the appointment.
He successfully completed his somewhat rushed conversion at Eastchurch under the eye of Lieutenant Arthur Longmore, RN.

CFS was formed at Upavon in Wiltshire on 12 May 1912. The primary aim was not to produce aviators as such, but professional war pilots. This was to be achieved by accepting for advanced training only men who already held a Royal Aero Club Certificate, although they were offered a refund of part of their expenses incurred in private tuition.

Central Flying School of the RAF

AVRO 500

Central Flying School of the RAF

Engine Workshop at CFS

Central Flying School of the RAF

Repair Workshop

Having obtained their Pilots Certificates in order to qualify for the course, the students were taught to fly all types of aircraft available at the school. The inventory then consisted of Maurice Farmans, Henri Farmans, Shorts, Avros and Bristol Bi-planes. No 1 course was completed on 5 December 1912 and graduates could carry out short cross-country flights and local flights of 20 to 30 minutes, at heights around 1500 feet. The ground training syllabus included theory of flight, map reading, strength of materials, military and naval aviation history, hints on flying and practical work on Gnome and Renault engines and aircraft repair. The standard for a pass was 50% in each subject and 60% overall.

One of the successful students on this first course was Major Hugh Trenchard who was later to become Lord Trenchard and first Marshal of the Royal Air Force. After his course Trenchard was appointed Senior Staff Officer at Upavon, although he had not then qualified for his military brevet. However, one of his duties was to set the examination papers, arrange and invigilate the examinations, correct the papers and assess the results. So he regularized the situation by setting himself a flying and ground examination, correcting his own paper and awarding himself his 'wings'.

Text Source - http://www.centralflyingschool.org.uk/History/HistoryFrame.htm

[No.1]

Excellent mate!!! Do you have any additional info about the early airplanes used in that purpose?

[mfg495]

Excellent mate!!! Do you have any additional info about the early airplanes used in that purpose?

All I have at this time is they used a range of aircraft, dual controlled Avro 504Js, Belriots, Farmans and Bristol Scouts. But there could be more. Will keep looking.

Image attached is MAJ E L GERRARD in a  Farman at CFS 1913

[Wingman81]

Thats really cool Mick. Im reading a book at the moment about the RFC in France in the beginning there is also a explained the beginnings of military flying in the UK.

Just a short quotation:
<<In his worthy book Barker (2002:12) recounts that "Under prime minister Herbert Asquith, a reluctant Cabinet took the point and requested that a technical sub-committee be formed of the committee of Imperial Defense to consider future policies and make recommendations. The key members of this committee were: David Henderson, then director of military training, and staff Frederick Sykes. The most visionary comment came from one of those early army pioneers who had learned to fly at their own expense and laid the first foundations - Bertram Dickinson. 'In the case of a European war', ventured Dickinson, 'both sides would be equipped with large corps of aeroplanes, each trying to obtain information from the other, and to hide its own movements'.>>

Barker, R. (2002) A Brief History of: the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, London: Robinson.

There is also a funny episode that Hugh Trenchard enrolled at the flying school shortly before his 40th birthday which would have disqualified him as a pupil. David Henderson learned to fly in 1911 at the age of 49 

They had also Nieuport Monoplane in 1912.

[mfg495]

It looks like Trenchard fixed his own exams.

"Major Hugh Trenchard who was later to become Lord Trenchard and first Marshal of the Royal Air Force. After his course Trenchard was appointed Senior Staff Officer at Upavon, although he had not then qualified for his military brevet. However, one of his duties was to set the examination papers, arrange and invigilate the examinations, correct the papers and assess the results. So he regularized the situation by setting himself a flying and ground examination, correcting his own paper and awarding himself his 'wings'"